Belt fastener



Patented Jan. 18, 1927.

BEIM." FAS'. PENER.

This-invention relates to belt fasteners designedf01 securing together;thefree ends 0f ically manufac tured which can be quickly and easily detached from one end of =the belt t0 permit removal-of a p0rtion of .th e belt to take up slack which doesnot weaken the end .portlons.of the belhto Which it is fasten-ed which does not. allowtwisting move 1nent of' one= engl ofthe belt yi threspect t0 th& i1djacentend t0,wh1ch 1t 1s connected,

which flexes freely in any, dir'ection und,

whichdocs nothzwe any proj.ecting me t-al deyice as illustratedin the a ;qompargying tions thereof as Will be apparei1tio. one.

skilled in the arbto which theinvention appertains. Reference should be had t0 the accompanying drawings .forming=a par t of this spec1- fication in which Fig. 1 is a side elevation showing the fastener applied t0 a be1t; Fig. 2 is 21 longitudinal central section through the adjacentends of the belt and the fastener connecting them; Fig. 3 is a view showing the fastener members detached in side e1evation; Figs. 4 and 5 a1e p1an views of the ball which is interposed bet-ween the interlinked connecting members; Figs. 6 and 7 a1e diametrical sections through the bal1.

Referring to the accompanying drawings, the be1t t0 Which the fastener is applied is dcsignated by the refernce numeral l and the fastener consist-s. 0f two identical U- shaped members 2, the free ends 0f which are bent inwardly t0 f0rm attaching prongs 3 adapted t0 be imbedded in the be1t, one of the arms 0f each 0f the connecting members being longer than the othe1 so that the oppositely disposed prongs are ofiset one with respect t0 the other. The two U-shaped connecting members 2 are interlinked with each other between the adjacentends of the belt 1 and interposed between the interlinked connecting members there is ayball 4 which is provided with a circumferential groove 5 log receive 0 ne of 1 t he connecting members. zynda sec0nd. circkumferential groove -6 ina. diametrical planaa trightangles to theplane of.the gr. oove t0 rec(aive.th other-.of thg connecting m embers.

Inapplyinzthe fastener I0 the beltthe ball 4 Will, beh1seliedz into vthe forward pqrtion.of one o;fifltl w connecting;n1embers xv1thxoneof it3s gro oves receiving theclosed endpoption 0f said membe1:. Theother fastening;membefwill b inse1rted thruugh thefj first. anddisposed with itS closed endq in the othe1 groove of -theball. The fasten.- mgme1 nbersal7e then applied tq the ends 0f the belt by forcingsaidends .betweenfl xe in; wardlybent prongS. of t11e fastener arid p 1:essing the a1ms of-the m'ember together; W1th a pai1rfof Pincers o r other' suitable t001 to force. the prongs; into the. belt"as. sh0wn in Figs. l. and 2, this' operation.ab7 the sa metwiev causilng thefinterlinkfld closed ends[of the. fasten ing members. t'o b.e bent into. c10s'e; engagement with the. ball. The' g1:oo.ved ball.v engz;gingthef two fastem'ngn- 1e'mbeifs at"substxntilljfl. the lngitudinal ajxis '01" the bjelt 10Ickftlia two. men1bers agaih st 1elzi tiVe turnii1g .moVement .about their longi1;udi1i;liaiciS-axifl ;h01ds the mat all Limes. in planes at Qright an'gle to. eachv o'thefat. th'e same' t1n'1e Peimit-tinfg one of'the fastening men1bers t0 swing angularly in any direction with respect to the othe1'. The interlocking 0f the fastening members by means of the grooved ba1l 4 serves 110 prevent twisting movement 0'f one end of the belt with respect t0 the other und also t0 p1event; any relative movement between the ends 0f the belt except angular movernent about thel center of the ball. Round belts have a tendency to tu1n laterally during their movement and the fastener herein disclosed provides equal flexibility at any osition which the belt may assume while on the pulleys. T0 take up the slack in the belt it is only necessary t0 spread the arms 0f one 0f the fastening Inembers t0 release one end of the be1t, cut off the necessary length and reattach the fastener by pressing the prongs into the belt.

Having described my invention, I claim y 1. A belt fastener comprising a pair of connecting members adapted t0 be interlinked one with the other and euch adapted to be securedto a freue endof a belt, und means interposed between said members adapted to hold the same against relative turning movement 21100111: their longitudinal axis but permitting relative angular move-' ment in other directions, said connecting members am]. holding means lying substantia1ly Within the confines of the joinec1 be1t enc1s.

2. A be1t fastener comprising a pair of connecting members adapted to 100 rigidly s ecured 130 adj acent free ends 0f the be1t anc1 to 100 interlinked between the enc1s of ehe be1t, anc1 means interposed between saic1 members ior taking up the p1ay between the interlinked members but permitting relative angular movement between them, saic1 counectinQmembers 1ying substantially within t-he confines 0f the joinec1 be1t ends.

3. A be1t fastener comprising a pair of connecting members adapted t0 be rigicily securec1 to ac1jacen free enc1s of a belt and to 10e inter1inked between the ends 0f ehe be1t, and a ba11 interposec1 between said 0011- necting members, saidconnecting members and ba11 1ying substantially within the C011- fines of 13110 joined belt ends.

4. A be1t fastener comprising a pair of U-shaped wire connecting members, the free ende 0f each of saic1 members being attachab1e t0 the free enc1 of a be1t anc1 saic1 mem- 'bers adapted t0 be interlinked between the ends 01: the be1t, and 21 102111 interposed between said interlinkec1 mem bers, said 0011- necting members and ba11 1y1ng substantial- 1y within the confines of the j oinec1 10e1t ends.

5. A 10e1t fastener comprising a pair of U-shaped wire connecting members adaptec1 t'p be rigidly secured to adjacent free enc1s o'f a be1t and to be interlinked between the 0 nds of Che be1t, and a ball interposed between saic1 interlinked members, said 102111 having a circumferential groove to receive each of said members.

6. A be1t fastener comprising a pair 0f U-shaped Wire conne0ting members ac1aptec1 t0 be rigic11y securec1 t0 adjacent free ends of a be1t und to be interlinkec1 between the ends of the be1t, a 102111 interposed between the interlinked members, saic1 ba1l having two circumferential grooves in diametrical p1anes at 1ighb 'ang1es to eac11 0t11e1 to receive the respeccive connecting members.

7. A be1t fastener comprising a pair 0f U-shaped connecting members adapted t0 be rigid1y secured t0 ac1jacent free enc1s 01 a belt and "eo be interlinkec1 between 1110 enc1s of the 10e1t, each 01 saic1 U-shapec1 members having inward1y b'e11t prongs at t11e free enc1s thereof ac1aptec1 to 100 imbec1dec1 in t11e be1t, and means interposed between saic1 members f01' maintaining 13110 same in lanes at right ang1es to each other anc1 for per- 1nitting angu1ar movement 0f 0ne with respect to the other.

8. A be1t fastener coinprising a pair of U-shaped wire connecting members, the free ends 0f which are bent inwarc1ly to form attaching p1ongs adaptec1 to 100 embeddec1 in a be1t, saic1 members being interlinked, and a 102111 inte'rposed between the inter1inked members, said 102111 having circumferentia1 grooves in diametrical planes ab right angles t0 each other t0 receive the respective members.

In testimony whereof, I hereunto affix my signature.

MARK M. MITOHELL. 

